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Brian Eichhorn

Brian Eichhorn's picture
Beer, Mead & Cider Judge

Brian started diving into the world of craft beer in 2004, tracking all of the beers he tasted online, with notes. He picked up homebrewing in 2008 and began judging in 2010. Taking pride in the opportunity to give feedback to brewers of all sorts, he has progressed through the BJCP, attaining the rank of Master in 2013. He formerly acted as an Associate Exam Director for the BJCP, as well as an exam administrator and proctor, and presently holds the rank of Grand Master IV, as well as Mead judge. To him, the most important aspect of judging is to know your limits and learn how to recognize them and expand them. To achieve that end, Brian has judged in over 100 competitions in 12 states and counting, including the Great American Beer Festival, and visits innumerable breweries. He also helps organize a few competitions each year, including the role of judge coordinator for the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (which you may know as FoBAB), the largest of its kind in the world.

 

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My reviews

Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse

Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse

Louisiana
United States
Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse, Gnarly Barley Brewing
Description 

Our Cherry Berliner Weisse pours a heavenly shade of deep pink. The base Berliner Weisse is a light and refreshing sour, a dynamic backbone of pale malts and wheat. The cherry purée provides a robust balance to the pucker factor for an exceptionally balanced experience. A beer as spirited as it is elegant!

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
4.6%
Malts: 
Pilsen, Flaked Wheat
Hops: 
Cascade

 

 


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Judges Rating:
84
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a 29a Fruit Beer with 23a Berliner Weisse as the substyle and cherries as the fruit, per the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines. It pours into the glass an attractive pinkish-red with faint orange at the edges and pillow... Read More

Broad Blade

Broad Blade

Massachusetts
USA
Broad Blade, Shovel Town Brewery
Description 

Our rich, full-bodied, award-winning American stout answers the call with robust flavors of dark-roast coffee, chocolate, and a hint of caramel. The complex maltiness is accompanied by a heaping shovelful of American Chinook and Nugget hops.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
7.0%
IBUs: 
55
Served at: 
45º F
Malts: 
American Two-row Pale malt, British Crystal malt, German de-husked Carafa malt, British Chocolate Malt
Hops: 
Nugget, Michigan Chinook

 

 


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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Broad Blade by Shovel Town Brewery is being evaluated as a 20B American Stout. I'm pretty excited about this one, as American Stout is one of my all-time favorite styles of beer.

Into the glass, it pours a deep brown-black with a dark tan head. Big and creamy on top. The beer is virtually... Read More

Hard Apple Cider

Hard Apple Cider

Florida
United States
Hard Apple Cider by 3 Daughters Brewing
Description 

Refreshingly crisp, this semi-sweet cider packs a big apple flavor perfect for the beach or wherever you chill. This is how Florida does apple cider.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.5%
Served at: 
50º

 

 


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Judges Rating:
81
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

Hard Apple Cider by 3 Daughters Brewing is being judged as a C1A New World Cider. This Cider pours a quite clear pale straw color, fizzy with minimal head. Initial aroma is distinct fermented apple, but it does come across a bit apple sauce-like, lacking complexity of traditional ciders, leading... Read More

Stiegl Grapefruit Radler

Stiegl Grapefruit Radler

Grapefruit Radler, Stiegl
Description 

Real grapefruit juice gives this deliciously refreshing Radler (mixed beer drink) its amber natural cloudiness and pleasant tangy taste. The refreshingly fruity taste makes Stiegl-Radler Grapefruit a wonderful thirst quencher. Radler meana "a cyclist" as it was originally brewed as a quick refreshment after physical activity.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
2.0%
IBUs: 
9
Served at: 
43 - 46ºF

 

 


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Judges Rating:
82
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

While presented as a fruit beer, upon learning what the beer was, it really doesn't qualify under any BJCP category. That being said, I am judging based on overall enjoyability and representation of this outsider category.

The nose is big and fully about the grapefruit soda. The beer is... Read More

Vieux Bois

Vieux Bois

Montana
United States
Vieux Bois, Bozeman Brewing Co.
Description 

This Lambic inspired ale was fermented and aged in French and American Oak barrels deep in the belly of the Bozeman Underground. Over a period of 47 months a blend of bacteria and wild yeast created a complex flavor profile that is tart, funky, and fruity. During the final months of aging Plum was added to each barrel and allowed to re-ferment lending its delicate fruit flavor to the beer. TA15 pH3.37

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.8%
IBUs: 
5
Served at: 
45º F
Malts: 
Pale, Wheat, Oats, Acidulated Malt
Hops: 
Tettnang, Tettnanger

 

 


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Judges Rating:
81
Appearance:
3 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Vieux Bois by Bozeman Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a 23F-Fruit Lambic. In this instance, it is made with plums, though the variety of which is not declared. This is a style that is based in history through use of specific Belgian processes to achieve a complex, wine-like beverage. This one... Read More

Excelsior Imperial Apple

Excelsior Imperial Apple

Excelsior Imperial Apple, Schilling Hard Cider
Description 

A pioneer of Imperials. This stellar cider takes flavor (and ABV) to new heights. With its tantalizingly tart fresh-pressed apples and semi-sweet profile, Excelsior launches your taste buds into an uncharted galaxy. Get ready for a complex and crushable cider experience that's out of this world!

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.4%
Served at: 
45º F

 

 


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Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Excelsior Imperial Apple by Schilling Hard Cider is being evaluated as a C1A New World Cider (per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines), as that seems the best fit.

This cider pours a deep burnished gold with a faint haze to it. Collapsing head here. Nose is super clean and expresses a deep... Read More

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